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Yesterday I returned from Minneapolis and already I can’t wait to get back!  Those of you who will be attending the 2010 Kidlitosphere Conference probably feel the same way.  Unfortunately, it looks as if this year’s conference will be running at the same time as my 10 year college reunion.  D’oh!

In lieu of my return then, I offer you some advice for once you are there.  Ms. Caryl Mousseaux of Leaning Tower of Books was kind enough to send me recommendations on where to visit when one is bookish and in Minneapolis.  Here I shall recount her fantastic advice.  It may prove useful to some of you folks:

… if you’ve lived here, you probably know the bookstores to visit. One you might not know is my favorite used bookstore. It has a great children’s section:

Sixth Chamber Books
http://www.sixthchamber.com/
Owners are husband-wife team, Heather & James, and they are wonderful.

Here is a list of the other independent bookstores:

Red Balloon (If you’re here this weekend, you can meet Chris Monroe of Monkey with a Toolbelt fame.)
http://www.redballoonbookshop.com/
On Grand Ave. near Victoria Crossing

Wild Rumpus
http://www.wildrumpusbooks.com/
In Minneapolis, Linden Hills

Common Good Books (Garrison Keillor, proprietor)
http://www.commongoodbooks.com/
On Selby & Western

Birchbark Books (Louise Erdrich’s bookstore, with a great children’s nook & loft, and a confessional!)
http://birchbarkbooks.com/
In Minneapolis

Micawber’s
http://www.micawbers.com/

On Carter Ave., across the street from the gorgeous little St. Anthony Park branch library. They remodeled just over ten years ago, and their children’s area is really neat — it’s a round room (a rotunda?) at the back of the library that was an addition to the original building. They’ve had an active library association since the 1930s, and we are following in their footsteps. Our library was created during the depression — started out as a little neighborhood-created place in a storefront, then they built the current building in the 30s. Cool history!

Here’s the St. Anthony Park library website:
http://www.sppl.org/locations/stanthony.html

And if you need a non-bookish place to visit, try the Japenese garden at the Como Conservatory. The whole Conservatory is lovely:
http://www.comozooconservatory.org/cons/index.shtml

The Turkish restaurant on Snelling by Hamline U is yummy, tiny and sweet:
http://www.blacksearestaurant.com/